Highland school board meeting on Zoom interrupted Monday

Music, coughing and inappropriate videos interrupted the Highland school board's Zoom meeting Monday.

At 6 p.m., the meeting started as usual. While taking about the new wastewater treatment plant, one attendee connected on Zoom started to cough and make noises. This triggered addition outbursts.

Curse words started being said from those on the call.

'All the people at this table I hope you die,” said the person.

More coughing and threats started happening as well as videos and music being played.

Staff quickly worked to mute all attendees and get the situation under control.

Once the meeting settings were changed and attendees were unable to unmute, the individuals left the meeting.

Superintendent Ken Crawford said he has heard of these types of disruptions happening during other Zoom meetings but not at Highland. He does not believe the individuals were community members.

In the future, they plan on setting up the waiting room function. This function requires the host to approve the people attending the event.

Crawford said they have not set up the function in the past because there was no one to approve each attendee as they entered the meeting.